Elevator system with self-propelled autonomous cab

Abstract

An elevator system wherein a cab is moved within a shaft by a tractive drive system that transmits torque frictional force on the interior surface of the shaft, enabling the cab to travel without cables and travel for long distances. The tractive drive system automatically regulates these normal forces. A method of controlling a plurality of these cabs disposed within a plurality of shafts by means of electronic systems.

1 . An elevator system comprising:
 at least one vertical shaft,   at least one cab, wherein
 at least one tractive drive system attached to the cab is transmitting frictional forces to a surface within the vertical shaft; 
 the tractive drive system automatically regulates normal forces applied to a surface within the vertical shaft; and 
 said tractive drive system is controlled by one or more electronic systems 
   wherein there are two or more vertical shafts; and   wherein the cab translocates from one vertical shaft to another vertical shaft, by means of a transpositioning system.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . An elevator system of  claim 1  wherein the tractive drive system permits the cab to rotate 360 degrees within the vertical shaft, the vertical shaft being cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         5 . An elevator system of  claim 1  wherein the electronic control system detects and controls the cab's location vertically and circumferentially within the vertical shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The elevator system of  claim 1  that includes a WiFi wireless communications system to communicate with the shaft controller and adjacent cabs. 
     
     
         7 . A method for controlling an elevator system including at least one autonomous self-propelled cab and at least one vertical shaft, comprising:
 an operating system;   at least one cab sensor in communication with a cab controller;   at least one drive sensor in communication with a drive controller;   at least one shaft sensor in communication with a shaft controller, wherein
 the operating system receives and processes sensor information from the cab controller, the drive controller, and the shaft controller to dispatch a cab to a pre-determined point within the vertical shaft 
 translocating the cab from one vertical shaft to another vertical shaft, by means of a transpositioning system. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 8  wherein there are a plurality of cabs in the shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein there are a plurality of shafts connected by a transfer station. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the operating system dispatch the movement of each of the plurality of cabs to optimize passenger travel between floors of a building. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein each of the plurality of cabs is in communication via a wireless mesh network.